Texas Health Resources picks new leader

Texas Health Resources selected one of its own Monday to replace longtime CEO Doug Hawthorne, who announced his retirement in January.

Barclay Berdan, the Arlington-based system’s senior executive vice president and chief operating officer, was selected by the board of trustees to replace Hawthorne, who had led the healthcare giant since it was created in 1997.

Berdan, who previously served as a top executive at Harris Methodist hospitals in Fort Worth, will take over the helm of Texas Health Resources, which includes 25 acute-care and short-stay hospitals, on Sept. 1.

“He is a forward-thinking visionary with a personally engaging leadership style,” board Chairwoman Anne T. Bass said in a statement. Bass led the search committee, which included three physicians, in a nationwide search.

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“He brings a well-rounded perspective and unique leadership strengths to the CEO position,” she said. “At the same time, he represents stability and continuity that will be critical to advancing our strategy as we confront the challenges of a rapidly changing health care environment.”

Saying he was “deeply honored,” Berdan said the nonprofit healthcare system must focus on access and convenience by providing services in affordable settings so that it can meet the needs of those it serves.

“We are at a crossroads in medicine and overall well-being. This is a time of unprecedented and often disruptive change in the health care environment,” Berdan said in a statement. “It’s also a time of great opportunity to make significant advancements in enhancing well-being for the communities we serve. ”

Berdan has also served as president of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth and was named executive vice president of the health system in 2005. In 2007, he became senior executive vice president of system alignment and performance. He was named chief operating officer in 2012.

Berdan joined the Harris Methodist Health System as the vice president/administrator of Harris Methodist Southwest in 1986.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from TCU and his MBA from the University of Chicago, specializing in hospital administration.

In announcing his retirement, Hawthorne said that he and his wife wanted to spend more time with their children and grandchildren and that he planned to continue being involved in the community.

Hawthorne has been CEO since Texas Health Resources was created through the merger of Presbyterian Healthcare Resources in Dallas, Harris Methodist Health System in Fort Worth and Arlington Memorial Hospital.